Day 1 Departure

To start off your amazing China Tour, you will leave your departure city and fly to Beijing. Meals and snacks will be provided on the plane.

Day 2 Arriving Beijing

When you arrive in Beijing, a Rewards Holiday local representative will meet and greet you at the airport. The local representative will then transfer you to your hotel where you can enjoy the rest of the day for self-exploring or relaxation.

Day 3 Beijing (Breakfast)

A day at leisure for you to explore at your own pace.

We highly suggest an optional Forbidden City Tour with lunch (optional, USD $79/person). Visit the world renown Tiananmen Square, the very center of the capital of China. After, venture into the Forbidden City, the former palaces of many emperors throughout the Ming and Qing dynasty. It is a true architectural masterpiece and also a home to the National Palace Museum. After a delightful lunch, proceed to the Summer Palace, a former royal retreat, also renown best preserved imperial garden in the world. Then, visit a famous ancient Chinese Medical Pharmaceutical company, founded in year 1669, Tong Ren Tang. Learn the rich history, theory, and philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine. Also learn health preservation through Chinese medical way. This evening, you can delight in a famous Peking Duck dinner (optional, USD $45/person) banquet.

Day 4 Beijing (Breakfast, Lunch)

Today’s highlight is an excursion to the, world renowned, majestic, Great Wall (Badaling). Also known as one of the “Seven Wonders of the World”, recognized by UNESCO. Get a chance to climb a section of this 3,700-mile marvel. Afterwards, tour the iconic “2008 Beijing Olympic Center”; including the famous Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, which now hosts many spectacular opening ceremonies and events. Experience the magnificent architectural structure design from the outside view, providing a perfect photo opportunity to capture these wonders. Then, visit one of the largest Jade Exhibitions in Asia. Tonight, you can choose to participate in a large-scale musical drama show, The Golden Mask Dynasty show (optional, USD $56/person).

Day 5 Beijing – Shanghai – Suzhou (Breakfast)

Full morning and noon (afternoon depending on scheduling) to explore Beijing on your own. You can also sign up and participate in a highly recommended half-day program we offer; (optional, USD $49/person) Beijing Day tour. Today, we will take a tour to the “Temple of Heaven”, recognized by UNESCO as an architectural masterpiece built between 1406-1460 A.D. Used in the past by the emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties for ceremonial honoring and praising to the gods of harvest. Afterwards, take a famous rickshaw Hutong Tour & Local Family Visit, where an included local family meal will take place. During the late evenings, transportation to Suzhou via flight to Shanghai*.

* The mode of transportation from Beijing to Suzhou may change to high-speed train depending on the weather and time of day; Rewards Holiday will make the final decision on the mode of transportation.

Day 6 Suzhou- Wuxi (Breakfast, Lunch)

Suzhou, the city in which is also known as a paradise, the Oriental Venice, for its exquisite water routes (canals), bridges, pagodas and gardens. Suzhou is also an UNESCO designated “World Heritage Site”. After breakfast, tour the Lingering Garden, a classic private garden housing more than 500-years of history. Next, visit a renowned traditional Silk Culture and Exhibition Centre, noted to be the largest silk producer in the country, where you will discover the mysterious processing of silk. Later afternoon, continue onwards to Wuxi, stroll along the traditional Nan-Chang Street, which composed of both ancient and modern architecture juxtaposed with peacefulness of the waterside town and fashionable life of Wuxi. Enjoy an optional relaxed and soothing canal ride inside the city, enjoy the picturesque feeling the ancient city offers on the Grand Canal Cruise (optional, USD$35/person).

Day 7 Wuxi- Hangzhou (Breakfast, Lunch)

This morning, tour the brilliance of Lihu Park, located at the famous Lake TaiHu. Followed by a visit to the fresh water pearl processing company, the “Yuanrun Ju” jewel corporate. Since its establishment in 1984, it has taken over, with high techniques, the farming, researching, processing and gallering of fresh water pearls for the district. Continue onwards to Hangzhou, the city described by Marco Polo as “City of Heaven” and “the most beautiful and magnificent city in the world”. This evening, you may enjoy a symbolic performance of Hangzhou, “The Romantic Show of SongCheng” (optional, USD $65/person). Performed over 2,000 times per year. Since its creation, the show has been performed more than 20,000 times, and entertained over 60 million audiences. It is one of the theatrical performances that had performed for the most times and performed to largest recording audience number; along with the O Show in Las Vegas, and the Moulin Rouge in Paris, the three are regarded as the “Top 3 Famous Shows in the World”.

Day 8 Hangzhou- Shanghai (Breakfast, Lunch)

Hangzhou, also known as the “Paradise on Earth”, has been immortalized and celebrated by countless poets and artists. The West Lake Cultural Landscape has been recognized by UNESCO as a site of World Heritage. After breakfast, visit The West Lake, the most sensational and beautiful lake in the country. Then, take an amazing boat ride on the serene West Lake, the most renowned feature of Hangzhou, noted for its scenic beauty which blends naturally with many famous historical and cultural sites throughout the path. Then, visit the No.1 tea plantation site and get a chance to taste the well-known Dragon Well Tea. Many studies proofs that green tea is excellent for your health, and Dragon Well Tea is the best Green Tea in China offers. After lunch, transport to Shanghai. Upon arrival in Shanghai, walk along the famous Bund, lined by the colonial architecture of European designs, this area is the best place to capture China under the Western influences of the old days. It now is known as the “Wall Street of the East”. Later evening, have an optional participation on a western influenced Chinese Acrobatic Show – ERA: The Intersection of Time (optional, USD $60/person).

Day 9 Shanghai (Breakfast)

After breakfast early morning, you are free on your own or participate

Optional half-day Shanghai City Tour (optional, USD$35/person). First, we will take you to visit the Lujiazui Financial & Trade zone, where located on the east bank of Huangpu River and facing the Bund. Lujiazui is the largest financial zone in mainland China, with more than 400 banks and financial institutions from both home and abroad. In Lujiazui, the charm of the city as an international metropolis is unfolded to the largest degree. One can admire the modern skysrapers as well as various buildings of different architectural styles across the Huangpu River. After this, we will take the round-trip maglev train which is the fastest train in the world. It’s truly Amazing and breath-taking experience in traveling. Visit the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum afterwards.

At night, you may enjoy a scenery ride on the Huangpu River Night Cruise (optional, USD $60/person) and get a breath-taking glimpse of the dazzling and charming night view of Shanghai.

Day 10 Shanghai – Yichang – Yangtze River Cruise (Breakfast, Dinner)

Today you will take a flight to Yichang. Our local representative will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the point where you will board your Victoria ship.

Day 11 Yangtze River Cruise (Break, Lunch, Dinner)

Three Gorges Dam/Xiling Gorge – Visit the Three Gorges Dam, which spans the Yangtze River at Sandouping in Xiling Gorge. It is the world’s largest power station. Later today, sail through Xiling Gorge, the longest (41 miles) and deepest of the Three Gorges.

Additional optional shore excursions (river conditions permitting) to Tribe of the Three Gorges or Hometown of Qu Yuan, offering Interesting glimpses into the culture and history of the Xiling Gorge region, and through the recently-completed unique ship lock with a ship lift, the world’s largest; it will be transited in about 40 minutes to an hour.

Day 12 Yangtze River Cruise (Break, Lunch, Dinner)

“Small Gorges”/Wu Gorge/Qutang Gorge – Transfer to another vessel for an excursion through Shennong Stream small gorges, which are narrower than the Three Gorges, but very impressive. Depending on river conditions, an alternate excursion may be substituted to the gorges of Goddess Stream. Enter the 25- mile long Wu Gorge, known for its quiet beauty, forest covered mountains, and cliffs so sheer that the sun barely penetrates the precipices. Then sail through Qutang Gorge, the shortest (5 miles), narrowest (500 feet), and most dramatic gorge.

Additional optional shore excursions (river conditions permitting) to White Emperor City (daytime), an ancient city overlooking the western end of Qutang Gorge, and a performance of the acclaimed hi-tech spectacle “Return to the Three Gorges” (evening).

Additional optional shore excursion (daytime) to Peak of the Three Gorges

Day 13 Yangtze River Cruise (Break, Lunch, Dinner)

Snow Jade Cave – Shore excursion to and scenic Snow Jade Cave. Depending on river conditions, an alternate excursion may be substituted to Shibaozhai, with its impressive wooden pagoda.

Additional optional shore excursion (river conditions permitting) to Fengdu’s “Ghost City”, known for its statues of ghosts and devils on Mingshan Hill.

Day 14 Arrive Chongqing

9:00am: Disembark at picturesque Chongqing, the “Mountain City”.

Make your trip to Chongqing even more enchanting on an evening tour. Get a peek at landmarks illuminated in glittering lights, such as Hongyadong stilted houses, Chongqing Theater, Jiefangbei Square. Experience panoramic views of the sprawling city at Tongyuanzhiguang platform; Drive through the illuminated city highways and bridges to hilltop where you can enjoy the priceless view of the glittering city skyline.

Day 15 Chongqing – Home

After breakfast, your local tour guide will transfer you to the airport. Depart home (via Beijing or Shanghai) or extend your journey to other cities in China.

Note:

Due to flight schedules, your return journey may involve a layover in another gateway city in China. In the event of such circumstances, your itinerary will be extended by an additional day.